The Sims 2

Sexual Content: Sims can have romantic relationships with Sims of opposite & same gender, have sex under the covers. Sims are shown naked (but blurred out in private spots) when they bath and can go around in their underwear and wear bikinis.

Spiritual Overtones:When you create a Sim you have to choose a astrological sign that determines your Sims personality potential love interests. Grim reaper comes to take Sim away when they die. Sims can become an alien and in expansions Sims can become zombies, vampires, and werewolves, and witch/warlock (with spellcasting)

Other: Sims can be abducted by aliens, Sims are shown as materialistic.

Editor’s Note: This game was reviewed on the PC version of the game and may or may not apply to other versions.

I’ve played many simulations each with their own pull, and none have kept my attention like this one. The Sims 2 has no pre-set story, it falls to the player to tell them. It’s because of this and the fact the game never ends that The Sims 2 is more a virtual “toy” than a game. Think of it like Barbie and Ken for older people.

In The Sims 2, you begin by choosing one of three pre-made neighborhoods or create your own. After that, you can choose a pre-made house already inhabited by one of the many pre-made families or make your own custom family and send them through life. Your Sims have six stages of life (seven if you have the University expansion pack): baby, toddler, child, teenager, (young adult), adult, and elder. And it’s up to you to get them through these stages. Your Sim’s happiness is determined by basic needs like hunger, energy, and comfort. The higher these bars are, the happier your Sims. Also featured is an Aspiration Meter. This meter measures your Sim’s life satisfaction with goals determined by your Sim’s aspiration. For instance, a Sim with a family aspiration might have a goal to get married and start a family; while wealth Sims usually have goals involving earning a certain amount of money.

Gameplay is quite simple. You click on an usable object, a Sim, or the Sim you currently control, and it brings up a menu of basic commands. Selecting one of the basic commands brings up a menu of more specific commands. For instance, if you click on a refrigerator, you have the option to make a meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Selecting one will bring up a menu displaying the different kinds of meals you can make, like pancakes, salads, sandwiches, and so on. It takes a little while to grow accustomed to this game, especially if you’re controlling more than one Sim. Trying to keep all your Sims happy and satisfied with life is quite a challenge, but one that will keep you hooked for hours.

Offensive content:

Editor’s Note: This review only covers the official content included in the game. There is much more optional fan made content out there, some of which is very obscene (e.g. full nudity & sex). Caution is advised when searching for user made creations.

The Sims 2 is quite a controversial game. Some Christians, like myself aren’t too concerned with this material. Others however would likely list this game among the more potentially offensive material. I’ll let you read on and decide for yourself, but I’ll admit this is not a redeeming game.

Sexual Content:
This is where the game usually gets all the criticism. I can understand that however. When you direct a Sim to shower or bathe, they undress. They don’t show the Sim taking their clothes off, just one quick turn-a-round and they’re gone. So you do see Sims naked but their sensitive spots are blurred. Sims can also walk around the house in their underwear and wear bikinis. Sims can also gain boyfriends/girlfriends and everything that goes with it. There are interactions like Kiss, Hug, and Flirt. One of the kissing interactions is called Make Out and it causes Sims to kiss with more passion in it. The worst part is Sims can WooHoo, the game’s name for sex. It’s not incredibly graphic; Sims will duck under the covers and the bed will move and you might see a hand or foot stick out accompanied by steam rising from the covers and fireworks. This would be cause for concern for most. In addition, Sims can live with other Sims, have sex without marriage, or even have gay relationships. In the University expansion Sims can also go streaking (run around naked) but like mentioned before everything is blurred out.

Violence:
The worst is having Sims pick fights, but it’s played like a cartoon-style fight. The combatants are covered by a dust cloud and you can hear blows being exchanged.

Spiritual Overtones:
When you create a Sim, you have to choose a astrological sign that determines your Sims personality and who your Sims might be inclined to fall in love with. There’s no mention of horoscopes however, so that’s a plus. When a Sims dies, they’re visited by the Grim Reaper who, in a slightly humorous manner, transports your Sims to the afterlife. Sims can become aliens and in some of the expansion packs they can become creatures like zombies, vampires, and werewolves, but it’s not meant to be taken seriously In Apartment Life Sims can become witches/warlocks and cast good/evil spells. There is also no mention of God or any other religion whatsoever.

Other elements:

Sims can be abducted by aliens and the Sims seem to be largely materialistic. The more an item costs, the more it satisfies a certain need.

Noteworthy Content:

Nearly everything I’ve mentioned above is a question of choice. Your Sims can be only as good or bad as you wish. You can choose to have Sims get married and then start a family. I’d say you can learn a lot about yourself with situations like this. I can’t bring myself to do what I know is wrong.

In short, The Sims 2 is a very entertaining game, but also a very questionable and controversial one. However, for a mature Christian, I see no reason why they shouldn’t play. As I said, you can learn a lot about yourself in the game. It was once said that the true test of a man’s character was power. The Sims 2 gives you absolute power. What will your character be?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Spotlight review are those of the reviewer (both ratings and recommendations), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Eden Communications or the Christian Answers Network.

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JakeFebruary 26, 2009

My mom and I have been playing Sims games for years. Great life simulator, and the third one comes out soon.. Not really any serious problems at all in these games, except very minor things. The game doesn’t get into anything spiritual (other than a slight use of astrological signs) and there are some small adult themes in the game. Nothing bad at all in the first one, except for the aliens. Lol. Also, your MALE sims can become pregnant after being abducted by aliens, which is a nod to the so-called “sexual experiments” aliens perform on “abductees” although none of it REALLY happens. (I forget what it is called when you get the feeling of floating above your bed, then getting half-nightmares about being abducted by aliens.. It has a name, but I forget.)

Overall, nothing too bad in these games. Fun.

GMarch 6, 2009

funny and interesting game. Its a good thing that it doesn’t touch spitrituality as it would alienate certain sections of society, and thats bad.

Yes sims like buying things and having a well furnished home. But doesn’t everyone.

MarjolijnMarch 25, 2009

Sims 2 is such a fun game. If you have all the expansions, which I have, it’s even better. I’ve had them for a year, still haven’t discovered all it has to offer. The game provides so much variation and diversity in game play it’s near impossible to summarize. The above mentioned objectionable content is really minor. The game is pretty innocent. For most types of sims whoohoo’ing is a goal in their life. But the reviewer forgot to mention that getting 2 sims to reach the point where they are both willing to whoohoo takes a lot of work to reach. By that time their relationship will be so high that they will also immediately wish to marry. Casual romance is near impossible in Sims 2. Except for the romance aspiration sim, but this type of sim is less fun to play cause the goals are dumb and repetitive. If your sim is in love and even if they whoohoo before marriage one can’t simply whoohoo and leave it at that. Continued contact with the romantic interest is important for the sims happiness. If the sim can’t see his/her love they will become unhappy. And once married a sim stays married. Sure you could split up or have an affair but it won’t make your sim happy, quite the opposite. And an unhappy sim is not fun to play with. They cry, don’t feel like doing anything, are mad at the player and complain a lot. As for the grim reaper appearing when a sim dies, well, I was surprised that the reviewer didn’t notice that he either takes the sim up (to a bright warm happy light) or down (to a fiery pit). It depends on how well your sim lived their life. Sure looked Christian to me. Another motivation built into the game to encourage a player to give his/her sim a happy good moral life. As for being material, that is true. Sims are material. They want stuff, expensive stuff and lots of it too. But I find that this feature is a little misunderstood. These things cost money. And lots of it too. So the sims wanting it encourages a sim to study, get more friends and work hard to achieve more skills so that they can have promotions and better jobs. They like having a good house but that’s pretty normal. Don’t we all want good things for our family. I’d hate it if mine had to live in a dump. The violence too is really innocent, sure they fight, but when the sims pop up from their cloud of dust all they are doing is slapping each other away in the silliest of ways. Besides fighting does not make your sim happy in most cases. All in all this game is a lt more fun to play if you give your sim a wholesome life, encourages to start large families, work hard and be caring to friends and family, to explore and study as much as you can, to gain skills and have hobbies. No, this is a good game. I’d recommend it to anyone, even young children.

I never had that happen with the Reaper. I couldn’t really comment on it when I never saw it. Plus, that kind of gives the idea that you can work your way to Heaven. I kinda disagree though on recommending it to young children. Would you want your kid learning about that kind of material from a computer game?

alaaApril 10, 2009

i wanna to play this game it’s soooooo nice thanx

vivienneApril 18, 2009

The sims game is a great game. And there is nothing offensive about the game. It is great fun and i never get bored playing it.

alyana brosasMay 29, 2009

this game is realy fun, with happy romantic wohoo then make a baby that was fun work and kissing and lilling the baby that was fun work for the sims and when the sims is male that have a baby

ZoeJune 6, 2009

I have had the Sims for years and I adore it. I can't wait for the Sims 3 to come out. I think this game is suitable for most ages because with all these things, being naked and kissing, you always get a choice. Sims will only do things if they must, most of it is up to you and that is what I like. You can really customize and create very realistic things like houses and people and make everything your own. Good stuff.

I forgot to mention, the above review failed to mention ghosts. Your dead sims can come back as ghosts, and haunt your house. Cause things to move about, scare your sims. To get rid of them, delete the grave/urn that appears on the lot after their death.

ChristianMomJune 22, 2009

I’m thinking of getting the game for my 14 year old son. Can you tell me more about the romantic Sims? I’m afraid it might be too graphic. If he controls his Sim and declines another Sim, are there other romantic episodes in the background? Reading about multiple partners does not impress me with the game. Can anyone give me details to help me decide?

JasmineNovember 29, 2009

Having sims with a romance aspiration is a choice (one I really don't reccomend… not only do they want to have many partners, but their wants are also very repetitive) and rather than a romance aspiration, you can also choose for your sim to have a family aspiration, wealth aspiration, knowledge aspiration and poopularity aspiration. The only one aside from romance that will want to fall in love would be family, but they will never want to have multiple partners and only want to fall in love so that they can get married and have children. I am nearly sixteen, but I've been playing the game since I was about ten, and have never found anything in the game offending. My parents also play the game and they are happy with it, and don't think the game is too graphic. I do think you should get your son the game, however there are sites on the internet that allow you to add more things to the game, that have been created by fans. I was searching for sites like this once and came across one that was very adult, so now my dad always checks out websites before I am aloud to download things off them, which is something I definately reccommend that you do.

I don't think you can. I'm pretty sure you can't. Not 100% because I never tried it, but I really don't think you can.

JasmineNovember 29, 2009

You can't have a baby, because in the game the only way for a couple to actually HAVE a baby is for the woman to be pregnant, however you can get them to phone an adoption agency. If you click on the phone, then the "call" option, you can then click on "call service" once oyur sim goes to the phone, a list will come up of different services, one of which will be 'adopt a child' you will bw asked to confirm that you want to adopt and then the next day at 10am the social worker will drive up to your house and you will be asked whether you want to adopt a baby, a toddler, or a child. For the most realistic version of parenthood I recommend you choose baby, but you can choose whichever you want and it will still work. From the moment you adopt, the child becomes yours and is part of your family tree, for example any children they have in the future will class as grandchildren etc.
Hope this helped, and I definately reccomend getting the game.

This is such an extensive exhort, other than was suspecting abundant the alike myself. Further great modernize.

Christian Gamers Code

The Christian Gamer is a believer in Jesus Christ as the way to eternal salvation (John 3:16). As a Christian, responsible to God for my actions and thoughts, I promise to choose my games carefully. My goal is to be a good witness in my purchasing decisions, in my game play with others, and in the use of my time.